Electivire (Analysis)

Granstafer

Granstafer

Status: Formatting and whatnot.
Electivire
Type: Electric

[Overview]

<p>In today’s metagame, Electivire falls behind many physical hard hitting Pokémon, such as Conkledurr, Haxorus, or Excadrill. Additionally, unlike other Pokémon, such as Blaziken, Electivire did not get many shiny new toys to play with. Combined with his average speed and mediocre 75/67/85 defenses, Electivire has to be knocked down a few pegs, even from last generation. Put simply, Electivire is certainly not a top-tier Pokémon.</p>

<p> However, it would be an incorrect statement to say that he is a horrible Pokémon. Electivire still got a much needed physical STAB in Wild Bolt, which fits nicely into has vast movepool. Electivire can still outspeed a large amount of the metagame with a Motor Drive boost, combined with nice 125/95/95 offensive stats, he can act as a wallbreaker to take down new defensive threats such as Ferrothorn. Everything considered, Electivire has many shortfalls that prevent it with keeping up with the rest of the metagame, but nevertheless, he can still do his job well.</p>

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Cross Chop
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
nature: Mild
ability: Motor Drive
evs: 252 SpA / 40 Atk / 216 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Electivire’s vast movepool and very nice offensive stats make him a prime candidate for a mixed set. Thunderbolt for the main stab may seem to surprise you due to Electivire’s superior attack stat, but on this set Thunderbolt packs a bigger punch. Cross chop is a very useful move on this set, capable of taking down Chansey, Blissey, Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and other steel types. Hidden power Ice is used to take out dragons not named Hydreigon, Gliscor, and other ground types. Unfortunately, it will not 2HKO max Special Defense Hippowdon, who can slack off the damage. Flamethrower is ideal for the last slot to deal heavy damage to Skarmory and Ferrothorn. As for the item choice, Life Orb is the best option for the most damage, but an expert belt can be used if you don’t like the recoil. However, You will be sacrificing some power, and will only work if your attack is super effective, which is not always the case.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Volt Switch is an interesting option, but since most switch-ins to Electivire would be things such as Hippowdon, Volt Switch is rendered useless.</p>

<p>When using this Electivire Set, It is important to capitalize to do what Eelektross cannot otherwise accomplish with another mixed set. Since Eelektross has overall better defenses, access to Grass Knot, better mixed attacking stats, no weakness, along with a vast movepool similar to Electivire’s, Eelektross gives Electivire a lot of competition for the mixed attacking role. To use this Electivire properly, one must focus on what it has over Eelektross- namely, its ability to take out much speedier threats, and a much easier way to defeat Blissey or Chansey. As where Eelektross fails to strike first against important Pokémon such as Hydreigon, Electivire can strike first with a deadly Cross Chop. Also, Eelektross must invest a few extra EV’s to outspeed Blissey, giving Electivire another advantage.</p>

<p>As this is a mixed attacking set, it can be easily used as a wallbreaking set, so Pokémon who need walls out of the way such as Scrafty are always a good choice. Of course, Electivire almost always requires a motor drive boost to make his sets effective, so naturally Pokémon who can lure in electric attacks are essential. Gyarados is the most effective for this role, as he has a 4x weakness to electric attacks. Skarmory is also a decent partner, also being weak to electric attacks, and can set up entry hazards for Electivire. However, due to the introduction of Ferrothorn in the metagame, flamethrower would be more common attack against Skarmory to cover them both.</p>

<p>The counters to this set are rather straightforward. Choice scarfed Garchomp can revenge kill Electivire with ease with a STAB Earthquake. However, one should still be wary, as this can allow Pokémon such as Dragonite or Salamence to set up, having Garchomp being locked into Earthquake. Due to Electivire’s lack of physical bulk, Pokémon that can cause a lot of physical damage can also harm Electivire, such as Bulk Up Conkledurr. However, Electivire absolutely shudders in fear at Sand throw Excadrill. This would cause Electivire to switch, possibly letting Excadrill set up, having the rest of his team face one of the most dangerous Pokémon in the game, or get knocked out by an Earthquake.</p>

[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Wild Bolt
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Fire Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Cross Chop
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
nature: Adamant
ability: Motor Drive
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe




[SET COMMENTS]
  • Uses Electivire’s great attack stat.
  • Good move pool allowing for excellent coverage.
  • Wild bolt for Main STAB.
  • Ice punch allows coverage against dragons and Gliscor, landlos, and other ground types that do not survive ice punch.
  • Earthquake is to hit some steels hard along with fire-types.
  • Fire Punch can be used to hit Scizor, Forretress, Ferrothorn, and Genesect.
  • Like the mixed set, Cross chop hits steels, Blissey,Chansey, along with Tyranitar and Bisharp, and hits Hydreigon harder.
  • Expert belt is an option, but life orb is the prime choice for the most non-choiced power.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
  • Volt change is also an option, but again as most switch-ins to Electivire are ground types, it is not too productive on this set.
  • Meditate can be used, with Earthquake/ Fire Punch replaced with meditate.
  • However, due to so many hard and fast-hitting pokemon in this generation, Electivire will rarely have the chance to set up.
Teammates and Counters
  • This set cannot afford a burn, so physically offensive flying or water types, such as Gyarados, who also doesn't like a burn, are not the best choices.
  • Same usual partners, like Skarmory and Tornadus.
  • Since This set suffers more from residual damage than the other set, a wish supporter, such as chansey, can be a good partner for Electivire.
  • Excadrill can usually come in on Electivire, but he should be wary of balloon.
  • Similar counters to the first set; revenge killed by scarfed Garchomp, can be plucked off by Conkledurr and Excadrill (unless in the event of a balloon).
  • Even Hippowdon, who is weak to ice punch, can endure almost anything Electivire throws at it, and then slack off the damage.
[Other Options]

<p>A Balloon can be used on Electivire to avoid ground attacks and an OHKO on Excadrill on the physical set, which can be very helpful in certain situations.</p>




[Counters and Checks]
<p>Indubitably, Sand Throw Excadrill is by far the best counter to all variants of Electivire. As for other ways to defeat or weaken Electivire, Choice Scarfed Garchomp can revenge kill Electivire with ease, or at least force a switch (without a baloon!) Once again, Electivire's poor defenses allow him to be plucked of by hard-hitting threats, so even a pokemon such as Conkledurr can cause a substatial amount of damage. </p>

[Dream World]


<p>Electivire gets Vital spirit as a Dream World ability. Due to sleep's new mechanics, and thus more presence of sleep, this would have been useful, but Electivire's average speed combined with less than average defenses practically forces Electivire to have Motor Drive.</p>
 
Formatting needs work, Wild Bolt outclasses ThunderPunch most of the time.

EVire definatley wants these sets:

- Choice Band
- Mixed Attacker
- Balloon
- Physical Attacker

Personally, I don't think Volt Chance deserves to be on the current set (especially a phyiscal set) because Electivire's main switch-ins are Ground-type, which will make Volt Change useless. Also, Fire Punch should be in the AC because all it hits is Scizor, which isn't too common nowadays because of Genosect.

In my opinion, this looks like a fourth gen set written on a Fifth Gen forum.

I can see Vital Spirit becoming useful though, as sleep is a lot more popular this generation due to it's new mechanics (sleep timer resets after switching out).
 
Expert belt/Balloon work better on Electivire than Life Orb does. Also, Vital spirit is good, but because of Electivire's middling speed stat, it NEEDS the boost that motor drive offers.
 
Ok this analysis seriously needs a re-work from the ground up.

First of all, the CB set isn't viable in this metagame and it should be axed immediately. Its extremely easy to setup on his choiced attacks and Electivire lacks the speed and power to make good use of one.

Secondly, the physical set should be second. Yes I am aware that Electivire got a buff in Wild Volt, but the mixed set is still superior. (It has an easier time dealing with Nattorei, it can beat Hippowdon etc) The mixed set is out of whack. Hidden Power Dark, really?!? There are tons and tons superior options. (Hidden Power Ice being the prime one)
The EV spread needs some work too, (its overly complicated)

Just run 40 Atk / 252 SpA / 216 Spe with a Mild nature. The items are a bit to slashy and you can probably remove Balloon (Electivire is too weak without an attack boosting item, and he's ridiculously frail so Balloon is largely unneeded)
 
Talked this over with PK on IRC and we came up with the following:

Get rid of Hidden Power Dark on the mixed set; it's useless. Your reasoning for it:

Hidden Power Dark may seem to be an odd choice, but it hits notable Pokemon such as Chandelure, Gengar, the Latis, Starmie, Jellicent, and Mew.
Click to expand...
Wild Bolt hits every single one of those Pokemon harder than HP Dark. Also, why would use HP Dark versus Jellicent and Starmie when you have a super effective STAB Electric move to use against them?

Hidden Power Ice > Ice Punch on the mixed set as well. HP Ice hits Gliscor Hippowdon, and other Ground-types harder than Ice Punch ever will, making it the better choice.

Speaking of the mixed set, make it the first set. It's better than the physical set, simply because it enables Electivire to kill the Pokemon who would otherwise wall it (notably Gliscor, Ferrothorn to an extent, among others). As PK Gaming stated, ditch the Choice Band set IMO; Electivire hates being locked into moves, and Wild Bolt isn't a very good move to be locked into in this metagame, with Ground-types and whatnot lingering around every corner. Electivire is also relatively weak and slow.

Lastly, I'd say shift Balloon into Additional Comments on each of Electivire's sets. Without Life Orb or Expert Belt, Electivire isn't going to be packing much of a punch. Being immune to Ground until your Balloon is popped is cool and all, but Electivire really appreciates the extra power.
 
Like Bloo said, HP Dark does not deserve any mention. Replace the mixed-attacker set with this:

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move1: Wild Charge
move2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move3: Cross Chop / Brick Break
move4: Flamethrower
item: Expert Belt / Life Orb
ability: Motor Drive
nature: Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 104 SpA / 152 Spe
 
I call dibs on Electivire if he gives it up!

Anyways, listen to what everyone is saying. I have nothing more to say, maybe include Meditate in additional comments?

Also, what is the minimum SpA that Electivire needs to 2HKO max HP max SpD Hippowdon with Hidden Power Ice?
 
ParaChomp said:
I call dibs on Electivire if he gives it up!

Anyways, listen to what everyone is saying. I have nothing more to say, maybe include Meditate in additional comments?

Also, what is the minimum SpA that Electivire needs to 2HKO max HP max SpD Hippowdon with Hidden Power Ice?
Click to expand...

Modest, max SpA with Life Orb only does a max of 43.8%.
 
Looks good. Just slash Earthquake (on the Physical set) with Fire Punch, and mention Meditate in the AC (Fire Punch is pretty important to fry Scizor, Nattorei and Forretress). Also mention Balloon in Other Options to not get wrecked by stuff like Doryuuzu.

QC Approved (1/3)
 
Thanks for making the changes. Though, you have a lot of formatting issues with your OP. Here you go:

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Cross Chop
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
nature: Mild
ability: Motor Drive
evs: 252 SpA / 40 Atk / 216 Spe

[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Wild Bolt
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Fire Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Cross Chop
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
nature: Adamant
ability: Motor Drive
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
I made one slight change to the physical attacker: Fire Punch the first slash over Earthquake. Fire Punch is better since it hits Natorei and Scizor hard. Earthquake is only for Tyranitar, Heatran, and other Steel-types, but, Cross Chop hits them anyways. So, Fire Punch should be listed first.

QC APPROVED (3/3)
 
Excadrill can usually come in on Electivire, but he should be wary of balloon.
Click to expand...

Why should he be wary of Balloon when any time Balloon Electivire switches in, it says "Electivire is floating on a balloon?"

Good typing, only one weakness.
Great movepool.
Weak to ground, a very common attacking type.
Click to expand...

Don't these two points contradict each other?

Again, Electivire's poor defenses allow him to be plucked of by hard-hitting threats, so even a pokemon such as Conkledurr can cause a substatial amount of damage.
Click to expand...

What do you mean, even?

Also, mention Electivire doesn't reach 100 base speed, so it's not hard to revenge.

It also can't take priority with its low defenses.

Also, where's Gyarados in TO? It's a classic...

Also, mention a completely special set in OC.

Perhaps you could talk about how Electivire isn't outclassed by other electric-types? (namely, its movepool and mixeyness)

Should mention Hippowdon in counters for the physical set. It eats Ice Punch and happily OHKOs with EQ, and Slack Offs the damage.
 
What if you make him hold Cell Battery? If you switch in to an electric attack you get a DD boost, and I think it will work great in doubles with Jolteon giving Discharges and making Electivre Faster and Stronger :)
 
^yeah about that... Iv'e been working on it, but progress has been slow with my exams coming up... don't worry though, it won't be much longer.
 
I really think Balloon should get a slash on both sets, because it's surprisingly hard to take down a +1 Evire without ground moves, you'll usually end up getting a kill as something pops the balloon
 
MewGod said:
Special viable?
Click to expand...
You might as well go with Jolteon, Raikou, or some other fast sweeper if you're going that route. While Electivire does have a niche in Motor Drive, there are times when the Speed Boost is just unnecessary, and could fail you if Electivire chooses to become a Special sweeper.
 
Heads up: The OP of this Electivire analysis has not been active since June 9th, and the analysis has only been updated since the third of that month.
 
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